Object

Local Plan Review: Preferred Approach 2016-2035

Representation ID: 342

Received: 05/02/2019

Respondent: Dr Christine Bowen

Representation Summary:

Concerns re: road infrastructure in Southbourne around railway crossing. Already can't cope with volume of cars which are often gridlocked at school start/finish times particularly. There is insufficient evidence that this has been tackled in the plan. Trains will be no less frequent (so barriers will be down regularly), and increased volume of cars sitting in traffic jams will result in increased pollution also. We are also very concerned about the knock-on effect in terms of traffic in nearby Westbourne village.

Full text:

I am very concerned about the impact of these proposals on the transport infrastructure in Southbourne particularly. Currently the roads around the railway crossing in Southbourne are gridlocked on a daily basis (at the time of schools starting and finishing, much more so than at 'rush hour' when traffic is far lighter). With the degree of expansion of housing proposed in this area there is likely to be a significant impact around the railway crossing with likely increased pollution as a result of stationary cars in traffic. How much has the traffic been assessed at this site at around 9am and 3.15pm? Assessing the traffic at 5pm for instance would give an entirely false picture of how the road is used. The current infrastructure would not cope with a significant increase in traffic and I can't see evidence of this being addressed.

There is also likely to be a very significant knock-on effect in Westbourne village in terms of traffic as this is the quickest way to drive to Havant from Southbourne. The traffic situation through Westbourne is already really quite dangerous at key times and at two points traffic is unable to flow in both directions. Increasing the traffic that flows through Westbourne from Southbourne would be a real concern,